Windows Phone 7.8 coming to all older devices in a matter of hours?

Another fine day for rumors, and today we have a fairly big one. Chinese tech site WPDang just announced that according to their resources, the Windows Phone 7.8 OS update will be pushed to all older generation devices (Windows Phone 7.5 and older) in every corner of this world at about 18:00 GMT, January 30, 2013.

Considering you guys could be located anywhere, we'll not convert that into some other time zone. Instead let's just say that if this rumour is indeed true, your old Windows Phone will receive a welcomed update in 5 hours. Not every phone will get the push exactly on time though. Like each update before, Windows Phone 7.8 will roll out in 4 waves, with the whole process concluding in 3 weeks.

This sounds a bit crazy, since the update is supposed to be covering all older devices, regardless of manufacturer, region or carrier. Microsoft has never done this before. OEM and Carrier delays have been always a pain upon every Windows Phone OS update. Earlier HTC said they may abandon the HD7. But if WPDang gets it right, Microsoft will take up where HTC left and finish the job.

Are you eagerly waiting for this update? Or have you already upgraded the whole thing into a shiny new phone loaded with Windows Phone 8?

Just read the article again and I have to say im a little sorry, because it asks at the end if you upgraded to wp8 instead, and you just replied to that. Forgive me that im pissed, I just read so many WP 7.8 only threads with such comments that im upset

This seems the most plausible to me. And I could totally see it happening. On another note, I'll bet the people over at Crackberry are super exited to finally have new hardware/software after waiting so long.

Really? The ATT Focus is the easiest phone by far to update. Just change it to Rogers-CA with a little work and update through Zune and then switch back, though if this is released clearly you don't need to do that.

At Sprint, the Arrive came with an AARP card. Check the bottom of your box. hehe JK but it would be a nice move for it to get an update. I still have an Arrive from my days at Sprint and if the updates come, I want to see it.

They do not speak directly that there is an update specifically for the HD7. May be they are speaking that no phone of them will receive the update. Or, it may be something else: the Twitter profile of them understood what the person asked about a firmware update, and WP not 7.8 itself.

I remember, at the time of update 8105, I have asked whether the HTC HD7 would receive this update. HTC's twitter answered me in exactly the same way, saying that was not provided for this update for the HD7. A week after the update began to be released.

[...] at this time, HTC does not have plans to deliver a Windows Phone 7.8 upgrade.

We will see if the update does indeed come for HTC devices, regardless of HTCs decision on the topic. I really hope so, because otherwise I'd have to flash my device (Mozart) with some XDA dev ROM and I really want to avoid that.

I kept my Dell VP for the heck of it, maybe one day I might need it as a backup or something to my 920... but I never quite understood why Microsoft cannot push updates to any or all devices via Zune? They have the delivery system, one that doesn't rely on wireless networks. Why is this kind of thing left up to the carriers and manufacturers? Is it because of compatibility... like HTC have to be the ones to make sure the new updates aren't buggy on their phones?

I hold no expectations or hope for my Dell VP becausue Dell abandoned it a long time ago.

Don't get this part of the industry either. Windows goes out to millions of different PC configurations, as long as drover support doesn't change then no warning for updates, just released. Needs to be the same for phones.

I switched to iOS but kept my Focus as a media player for the reasons you stated above. It would be sweet if my Focus gets updated to 7.8. I'll return to WP as my primary phone in a couple of years (or sooner).

I moved to the 920 (along with my wife), but I would really like to have 7.8 on my old Samsung Focus for dev testing purposes. For some reason, I don't necessarily trust this news. It would be pretty sweet if it's true though.

oh boy I bet many here will be whining tonight why MS is not delivering what they promised. Doesn't matter it's some bogus rumor from a chinese website. I'm frankly shocked Daniel Rubino approved this article.

AT&T here would love to get the 7.8 update but I am tired of the windows phone platform. I think the if I could sell this 900 I would get something else. Windows 7.8 will still not let you back the phone up will it?

WP8 backs your phone up. Why would an older phone not performing a task that its replacement clearly does, mean you'll abandon the whole platform? Sounds like you just want something else, but you shouldn't use the excuse that "my old phone won't..." it didn't when you bought it. I had phones that *gasp*, only made phone calls. Should I say I'll never buy from the oem again, because i couldn't surf the web, even though they now make smartphones? That's you choice, but the logic is lacking, and frankly its a straw man argument.

If the HTC Titan II doesn't get the 7.8 update, I guarantee I will not buy another HTC device (I have only ever purchased HTC smartphones for my family and me). I'll probably wait until MWC then see if Nokia is going to be giving WP some love with a 41MP shooter with OIS, if not then it'll be the 920 (most-likely).

I hope so, the new blackberry is being introduced today...on my l900 I don't even get alerted when I receive a new fb message or request. This is one of the things that's making think about checking out that new bb.

Do you have the FB app set to notify you of those things? It will pop a number on the tile for you when you get alerts. I actually turned FB notifications off and just open the app and I see any notifications right there.

Email from HTC:Keep in mind that while our goal is to bring the latest software updates to as many of our recent devices as possible,we are commited to maintaining every phones performance and usabillity first.Because of this,windows device willnot be updated to 7.8 i would like to apologize once more for this inconvenience and remember that we are here to make sure your phone is working perfectly and to the fullest (Recieved at 9am today)

My son who got my HD7 will be very excited to hear that his phone will in fact receive this update. Its hard to give up any device, especially when the device is the HD7. HTC in my opinion did a great job on that phone.

SOFTWARE UPDATE GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HTC TROPHY.
Verizon Wireless and HTC encourage you to download this update.

Verizon Wireless is pleased to announce a new software update,
ROM: 2305.13.30202.605, for your HTC Trophy. This updates the phone
OS to Windows Phone 7.5 MCR3.

Device Features
+ The device is now Wi-Fi Hotspot capable. This function can be turned on with
the “Internet Sharing” feature under Settings. With this feature, you will have the
ability to share your mobile data connection with up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices.

I got me a Lumia 920 day one but gonna upgrade my focus flash, which I dislike but att had no more original focus when I did my insurance claim, I was pissed they wouldn't give me my original phone especially since flash only has 8g and no expansion

Currently using the 920 with my 900 as a backup phone. Still use 900 at home on WiFi for games and apps not yet converted to wp8. Will be updating the 900 as soon as its ready and maybe even swapping sim cards for old times sake. Love the Lumia family of phones.

I would have been loving this for my Radar. But I spiderwebbed the screen and got "shiny" new 8X instead of going through the insurance. Yay TMo!! I AM gong to pull the update down for it though. Its my back-up and I LOVE a few of its apps and games that aren't out for WP8 yet. My roomie has been waiting for this too..

Same thoughts here. If BB10 was release 3-4 years ago when it was discussed it might of made a impact. Everything that made blackberry good is gone. I have looked over the videos for it, and it's nothing that other phones (even Windows Phone) have already done and done better. Anyone who used a blackberry who likes tech has moved on years ago, to a Android, iOS or Windows Phone. They are a day late and a dime short.

Blackberry is counting on their name to move them forward, I think they have a long road to even get 1% of their market share back.

I guess the next year will tell, I am sure they will sell with the fanboys but, their corporate market share was gone years ago.

The people who make up BB's current market share are those people who are clinging to their Bolds & Curves at all cost. Their market share has steadily declined and I believe with the blitz with Nokia, HTC (giving them the WP flagship name) & Samsung (this new push into business) that MS can eventually over take them.

I live in India but the Windows Live id set up on my phone is a US account because you get more features and stuff(music+videos live tile for example)...anyway i have an unlocked Samsung Omnia W..so will my Windows Live id location affect when my phone will get the update??